Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister on one of Australia's very precious places, James Price Point. Is it true that the Minister for Resources and Energy has effectively made it compulsory for Woodside's proposed giant gas hub to proceed only if it is built specifically at James Price Point? Why has the minister done this despite independent analysis showing that building at this particular location will cost billions more than the alternatives, will come with severe environmental consequences and is opposed by the Broome community? Will the Prime Minister review this arrangement and ensure a win-win enabling the world's greatest whale nursery to be protected, dinosaur footprints to be preserved and billions saved for Woodside?

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Melbourne for his question. I understand this is an issue that he is concerned about. I would say to the member that the basis of his question is not correct. The minister has not made it compulsory for Woodside to proceed with this proposal. What the minister for resources has done is set a time frame for the joint-venture partners to make a final investment decision in the first half of 2013 on the proposed gas processing hub at James Price Point. A strategic assessment of the environmental impacts of the project has been submitted to the WA government and is currently under consideration. After that process has ended—that is, the state process has ended—it will then be a matter for consideration by the federal government, by the Commonwealth. Finalisation of the Western Australian government's report must come first. It must precede final termination of the assessment documents. This process requires all potential environmental, heritage and Indigenous impacts to be fully assessed.